Victoria Janssen's Blog, page 91

Readercon 2010 Schedule

This is what I'll be doing while everyone else is at RomCon! I'll be at Readercon 2010 this weekend. For the special events, I'll be participating in the Meet the Pro(se) party and the marathon reading of Theodore Sturgeon stories. Here's my panel and talk schedule:Axes of Identity in Speculative FictionFriday 5 pm, ME/CTAndrea Hairston, Victoria Janssen (L.), N.K. Jemisin, Vandana Singh,

Top 5 Angsty Heroes

I love angsty heroes. You might have guessed that about me at some point. Ahem.Anyway, my top five:1. Any Laura Kinsale hero. I mean, how can you top the boy prostitute who becomes a ninja? Or the vertiginous highwayman? Go on, try. I dare you.2. Any Carol Berg hero, despite them probably being dead from their injuries after she gets through with them. They suffer, yet also manage to kick butt,

How To Begin Writing blah blah blah

I've been rooting around in my backbrain trying to figure out how I begin writing a new story. I mean the writing part, not the coming up with ideas part.These days, since I've been writing novels to deadline, it's easy to tell when I'm going to start a new story. I start the new story after the old story is finished. The subject of my story is dictated by what I've discussed with my editor

City of Independence

Today's a big day here in Philadelphia - it's Independence Day!There are many other reasons I love living in Philadelphia. Here are a couple of them. This mural, representing local independent radio station WXPN, is one. The mural is located in West Philadelphia.And here's another reason - this church was built in 1886. It's also in West Philadelphia. Eventually it was struck by lightning.

Robert Graves, "A Dead Boche"

A Dead BocheTo you who'd read my songs of War And only hear of blood and fame, I'll say (you've heard it said before) "War's Hell!" and if you doubt the same, Today I found in Mametz Wood A certain cure for lust of blood: Where, propped against a shattered trunk, In a great mess of things unclean, Sat a dead Boche; he scowled and stunk With clothes and face a sodden green, Big-bellied, spectacled

Brenda Shaughnessy, "Miracles"

MiraclesI spent the whole daycrying and writing, untilthey became the same,as when the planet covers the sunwith all its might and stillI can see it; or when one deadbody gives its heartto a name on a list. A match.A light. Sailing a signalflare behind me for another to find.A scratch on the pageis a supernatural act, one twistingfire out of water, blood out of stone.We can read us. We are not

Down the Rabbit Hole to Alison's Wonderland

I'm over at the Savvy Authors blog today, talking about inspiration.Happy launch day to Alison's Wonderland from Harlequin Spice!"From a perverse prince to a vampire-esque Sleeping Beauty, the stars of these reimagined tales are—like the original protagonists—chafing at desire unfulfilled."Alison's Wonderland blog, which features interviews with the anthology authors (including me, in my Elspeth

Non-White WWI Soldier Picspam

Today's post is picspam - these are all photos of soldiers from World War One. They weren't all white. Not by a longshot.

Dating for Writing

If I'm having a really hard time motivating myself to write--and by write, I mean planting myself in a chair to just do it--I make a date. There are several advantages to making a date.1. The time is scheduled. I feel obligated just because it's in my datebook. I feel even more obligated if I announce that I have a writing date on Twitter or similar.2. If I don't show up, my fellow writer

Which Book? Oh, Which?

So many books, so little time! How do I choose what to read next?The illustration for this post is some of my giant To Be Read pile, extracted from its boxes and strewn all over my bed for its photo opportunity. (And let me tell you, that was a terrifying experience. I suspect the TBR weighs more than I do.)Mostly, I keep books in boxes to cut down on dust, but it also helps me to prioritize.